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Skiing & Snowboarding

Perhaps the biggest draw for many to visit Colorado is the winter sports of skiing and snowboarding. With such famed Colorado ski areas and resorts as Vail, Crested Butte, Breckenridge, Aspen, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, and many more, the mountains attract millions of visitors each year.

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Colorado skiing and snowboarding are fun for all ages and abilities. Lessons with professional ski and snowboard instructors are offered at all mountains that provide skiing, and are a great introduction to the sport. Skiers and boarders will be transported to the top by either a chairlift or a gondola.

Once atop the lift, there will be trails marked with either a green circle, blue square, black diamond, double black diamond or extreme terrain. Green circle runs are the most basic, beginner runs. Blue squares are intermediate runs. Black diamond runs signal advanced terrain on the mountain. Double black diamond and extreme terrain runs, are the most expert trails on the mountain and are not recommended for novice skiers or boarders.

Lift tickets must be purchased to ride the lifts at any of the mountains, though many locals chose to purchase a season pass. Usually lasting from early November to mid April, the mountains tend to get more crowded on the weekends, during local festivals and holidays, with peak times being Christmas to New Years, Martin Luther King weekend, President’s weekend, and Spring Break (usually all of March).

Many Colorado snowboarding and skiing events and competitions take place throughout the state, including the X Games, the Dew Tour, the Birds of Prey World Cup races, plus others. These are big attractions to visitors and locals, alike. If you visiting Colorado in the winter months, skiing and snowboarding are definitely activities you will not want to miss!